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The Importance of the NCAA Clearinghouse

The NCAA Clearinghouse is critical for your college recruiting success. The correct time to sign up for the NCAA Clearinghouse is at the end of your Junior academic year.

Many people ask me, “What exactly is the NCAA Clearinghouse?” I simply direct them to the definition on the NCAA website:

NCAA Clearinghouse - Students who plan to play Division I or Division II sports during their freshman year of college must register with the NCAA during their senior year of high school. This registration process certifies that the student has met certain academic and other standards, as required under NCAA guidelines in order to compete and receive athletic-based financial aid.

Essentially, as you can read from the information above, the Clearinghouse is a simple way for NCAA D1 and D2 coaches to KNOW that you are academically eligible to play for them next season. It is a way for the NCAA to put a universal stamp approval on you so college coaches can easily and quickly know if you are academically eligible to play at their University.

Signing up for the NCAA Clearinghouse is easy. You can sign up at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

QUICK NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE STORY

I know of a student-athlete that had a full-ride basketball scholarship to a school in Northern California, and the coach assumed he was cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse because the student-athlete came from a prestigious high school. The student-athlete started his fall semester on campus, he was getting ready for his upcoming basketball season, and the coach just happened to find out that the student had not registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse. It nearly cost him his scholarship, even though he was a “qualifier.”

I share that story with you because it is IMPERATIVE that you register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. It does cost some money, and if you need financial assistance with it the NCAA has a way of subsidizing your costs.

As you can see, it is very important to get yourself registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse at the end of your Junior year. Study hard and keep your grades up…that is the KEY!

Want to find out more about NCAA Clearinghouse, then visit Coach Chris Berg’s site on how to choose the best Athletic Scholarships for your needs.